Bills’ new-look secondary is stepping up to the challenge

With the departure of veteran defensive backs Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Tre’Davious White after the 2023 season, many in the football world assumed the Buffalo Bills secondary would be in shambles in 2024.

Throw in a preseason that saw veteran Mike Edwards and second-round draft pick Cole Bishop slowed down with injuries, and All-Pro slot-cornerback Taron Johnson immediately becoming injured in the Bills’ Week 1 game versus the Cardinals; you’d think the Bills’ back-five would be in disarray. 

Yes, the secondary outlook was bleak for the Bills, but people seem to forget one of the bolded points on head coach Sean McDermott’s resume– “Safety Whisperer.”

No more Hyde and Poyer? No problem—the Bills plugged in Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp.

Taron Johnson is injured? Cool—the Bills plugged in Cam Lewis and Ja’Marcus Ingram.

And the Bills secondary has not missed a beat. So far this season in only two games, the Buffalo Bills secondary has recorded three interceptions and allowed 179 passing yards per game versus the Cardinals and Dolphins.

Comparatively, In the Cardinals and Dolphins other game, they averaged 289 yards per game.

What’s even crazier is that four players are receiving significant playing time in the secondary who were drafted in the sixth round or later!

Yes, it’s early in the season, but if McDermott’s past success with coaching up players in the secondary is any indicator, the Bills have a great chance to continue their high-level secondary play and could possibly develop a new safety tandem for the next several seasons.